New Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Mohammad Abdul Momen on Wednesday said the commission will start investigation into the allegations against 'big fish' immediately as it is the expectation of people.
"Work as per public expectations is top priority. We will take action immediately about those cases of corruption which affected the country significantly and take action against culprits who were behind these graft and irregularities," he said while talking to reporters on the premises of the head office of the Commission after taking charge.
"ACC is a part of the society. It is not impossible to be corrupt in the corrupt society in some cases. It is your duty (journalists) to investigate disinterestedly if you find any complaints against me and my commission," he said.
He also sought cooperation from the media to reach out the right information to people. Momen, a former senior secretary to the government was serving on a contractual basis in the Ministry of Home Affairs, resigned from his position earlier.
Mohammad Abdul Momen, a former secretary of the Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs, has taken charge as the Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission, or ACC. A statement issued by the watchdog said the new ACC chief arrived at his office around 3:30pm on Wednesday.
Another member of the commission, retired district and sessions judge Mian Md Ali Akbar Azizi, entered the ACC office at the same time after taking charge as Momen. However, retired army officer Hafiz Ahsan Farid did not join duties on Wednesday. Brig Gen (retd) Hafiz Ahsan Farid, is set to assume office on December 17.
Earlier on Tuesday, a notification signed by Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid announced the appointments of the ACC Chairman and two Commissioners.
Of the three, the Chairman will enjoy salary, allowance and other benefits equivalent to those of a judge of the Appellate Division, while the two Commissioners will enjoy the same equivalent to those of a judge of the High Court Division.
On October 29, former ACC chief Mohammad Moinuddin Abdullah, and former commissioners Asia Khatoon and Jahurul Haque resigned from their posts, citing 'personal reasons' amid a widespread reshuffling in the administration after the government changeover.
Moinuddin was once a senior secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture. He took over as ACC Chairman on March 3, 2021.
Although they were assigned to the ACC for a five-year term, they had to leave one and a half years before their term was completed under the changed circumstances. The interim government formed a search committee to recommend candidates for the position of ACC chairman and commissioners on November 10. Supreme Court Appellate Division Justice Md Rezaul Haque was appointed as the head of the committee.
The other members were High Court Division Justice Farah Mahbub, Comptroller and Auditor General of Bangladesh Md Nurul Islam, Public Service Commission, or PSC, Chairman Mobasser Monem, and former Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain. The selection panel was tasked with recommending at least two names for each vacant position.
The new chairman and two commissioners were appointed within a month of the formation of the selection committee to form the new ACC commission.
